A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is

SECT. III.

Scripture Proof of the sinful pollution of the Body.

Scripture Proof of the sinfull pollution of the Body.

That the very body of a man is sinful and needeth sanctification, is plain from these Texts, 2 Cor. 7. 1. Having these promises, let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness; This is spoken to those also that are regenerated, none is perfect, they must be perfecting; As Apelles, when he drew his line would write faciebat in the Imperfect tense, not fecit, as if he had finished it, he would be still making it more exact; so should we be in our best holy duties, Amabam not amavi, credebane, not credidi, there remaineth a further complement and fullness to be added to our best graces; Now this perfection is by cleansing of the flesh and spirit, that is the body and the soul. It is a great error among some Papists, that they hold the spirit and mind of a man free from original contagion, and therefore confine it only to the inferior bodily parts, but that hath sufficiently been confuted, yet we deny not but the bodily part of man is likewise greatly contaminated, and like an impure vessel defileth whatsoever cometh into it. The uncleanness of the body appeareth also from that command Rom. 12. 1. where the Apostle enjoineth, that we should present our bodies a living Sacrifice, holy and acceptable; So that whatsoever we do by our body it is to be holy and acceptable unto God: Now this exhortation was needless, if we did not naturally offer up our bodies a sacrifice to sin, and to the Devil: For merely a natural man serveth sin and the Devil with all the parts of his body: Therefore the Apostle speaking to persons converted,